A trio of $12,800 events for up-and-coming trotters and pacers highlighted the Friday card at Harrah’s Philadelphia, and all three favourites moved to the lead early and then went on to reduce their lifetime marks.
The winner in the headliner for pacing males, the Somebeachsomewhere colt Komodo Beach, was looped leaving, but persevered under the guidance of Todd McCarthy to reach the lead with a lap to go. A final half of :55.3 was enough to keep Komodo Beach on the road to a 1:52.3 victory in his second start of the year for trainer Brett Pelling and the ownership of David McDuffee, John Fodera, Steven Wienick and Trevor Ritchie.
In the lead contest for distaff pacers, driver Corey Callahan moved Doubleoffthewall to the lead in front of the stands, then tacked on a last half in :56 to win easily in 1:53. Tom Fanning trains the Sweet Lou filly for the ownership of David Van Wart, Falcon Racing LLC and Joel Benson. Callahan came back to win with another female in the top trot, the Father Patrick mare Cocktails N Dreams, making the pace-controlling move and then keeping her going to the line in 1:55.3 for trainer Trish Adams and the partnership of Benjamin Gordon and Never Too Late Racing LLC.
Troy Beyer had the most successful day among drivers with three victories, two for trainer Noel Daley.
(PHHA/Harrah's Philadelphia)